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NBA: Toronto Raptors vs San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview



DeMar DeRozan makes his much anticipated return to Toronto as his San Antonio Spurs face the 2nd seed in the east, DeMar’s former team the Toronto Raptors.


 


Toronto Raptors


The Raptors have had a very good season thus far sitting at the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference with a 43-16 record. Although, Toronto saw some inconsistency after their hot 20-4 start, it seems like they have figured it out as they entered the allstar break having won 6 straight games, most recently defeating Washington where Pascal Siakam had a career high 44 pts. For Toronto the target is clear for this final stretch of the regular season, get healthy and try to knock off Milwaukee for the 1st seed. Toronto are the tied best team in the East when it comes to record at home at 24-5 as they rarely lose on their home floor. Toronto are expected to have a near full strength squad other than VanVleet available tonight.


 


Injury Report


Patrick McCaw – Questionable


Fred VanVleet – OUT


 


San Antonio Spurs


San Antonio are currently right in the middle of fighting for a top 4 seed which could give them 1st round home court and still fighting for the playoffs in the West. Spurs are 2.5 GB 4th seeded Blazers but are also just 2.5 games above 9th seeded Kings so either a good run or a bad run of games could really change where this team stands. San Antonio entered the All-star break on a 108-107 win in Memphis, however on this current rodeo road trip they’ve been quite awful at 1-4 having lost 4 consecutive games prior to the Memphis win by an average of over 20 pts. For San Antonio, the biggest worry has to be their road struggles since they’re just 11-19 on the road compared to their 22-7 home record and coming into one of the toughest arenas it’s going to be hard to see them win unless they change something up and maybe a fired up DeMar DeRozan looking for revenge on his former team could lead them over the line tonight with a big night.


 


Injury Report


LaMarcus Aldridge – Probable


Derrick White – Probable


Lonnie Walker – Questionable


Dejounte Murray – OUT


 


Betting Stats


Totals


Raptors are around the middle of the NBA when it comes to covering total point overs at home this season at 51.7% (15-14). Total tonight is 227 pts and the closest that Toronto have had the total to that before was 227.5 pts against the Nets which resulted with an over as Toronto won 127-125.


San Antonio are THE BEST at covering total point overs on the road this season at 75.9% (22-1-6)! They have not had a 227 total before but have had similar ones in 226 against the 76ers which ended with an over in a 122-120 loss and a 228 total against New Orleans which also resulted with an over in a 114-126 win. Spurs have covered 8 consecutive total point overs on the road entering this game.


 



Handicaps


Raptors have covered 48.3% of their Handicaps at home this season (14-15) which is around the middle of the NBA. They’re 7.5 point favourites tonight and they haven’t had that Handicap before but have been 8.5 point favourites twice before against Minnesota and Phoenix failing to cover both of these Handicaps despite winning the games 112-105 and 111-109.


Spurs have covered 44.8% of their road Handicaps this season (13-16). They’ve been 7.5 point underdogs once before on the road this season which was against the Pelicans which they failed to cover losing 140-126.


 


Previous Meeting


These teams met in San Antonio in January in a match up where Kawhi Leonard had his return to his former club which didn’t do well. San Antonio won 125-107 and DeMar DeRozan posted his first career triple double in the win getting his revenge against his former team, however tonight’s match up will no doubt have more meaning for DeRozan as it’s played in Toronto. Spurs covered a -3 Handicap and total 216.5 pre-game total resulted with an over due to a high scoring game. Spurs were red hot from 3 in the win.


 


Recent H2H in Toronto


Toronto have been able to get an edge on San Antonio at home lately winning 3 of last 4 match ups against the Spurs at home.


Most recent meeting in Toronto was a low scoring Raptors win 86-83 last season. Spurs covered a +6 Handicap while total points 204 resulted with an under.


 


TIP OFF – 23rd February 2019 – 12am UK Time

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